Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (original) (raw)

Eye Movement desensitization and Reprocessing for treating post-traumatic stress disorder

university of Duhok , 2020

This report has focused on two goals which are presenting the procedure of how EMDR works? And the studies that shown in the results of efficacy of the EMDR to treating people with Posttraumatic stress disorder, and comparing with difference approaches such as cognitive behavior therapy and Exposure therapy. There were many studies that convince scientifically that EMDR is more effective than Cognitive behavior therapy especially the techniques that works with PTSD; such as Exposure therapy and Cognitive restructuring. You as a reader will find the outcomes and the effect sizes of the meta-analysis and Randomized control trials, there were some difference between the studies some of them shows that the EMDR is more effective than the Cognitive behavior therapy and others shows that there is slight difference of efficacy of EMDR with PTSD comparing with Exposure and cognitive restructuring. At the end and according to those studies that we found EMDR is more effective approach than the other for treating the Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy What is the Role of Eye Movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A Review

Background: Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms differ from those at work in standard exposure techniques. Aims: To investigate first whether eye movement bilateral stimulation is an essential component of EMDR and, second, the current status of its theoretical basis. Method: A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted in databases using standard methodology. Results: Clinical research evidence is contradictory as to how essential EMs are in PTSD treatment. More positive support is provided by analogue studies. With regards to potential theoretical support, some evidence was found suggesting bilateral stimulation first increases access to episodic memories; and second that it could act on components of working memory which makes focusing on the traumatic memories less unpleasant and thereby improves access to these memories. Conclusions: The results suggest support for the contention that EMs are essential to this therapy and that a theoretical rationale exists for their use. Choice of EMDR over trauma-focused CBT should therefore remain a matter of patient choice and clinician expertise; it is suggested, however, that EMs may be more effective at reducing distress, and thereby allow other components of treatment to take place.

Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Outcome is stable in 35-month follow-up

Psychiatry Research, 2008

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may follow major psychological trauma. The disorder is longstanding, even chronic, and there is a need for effective treatment. The most effective short-term treatments are cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Twenty subjects with chronic PTSD following occupational health hazards from "person under train" accidents or assault at work were treated with five sessions of EMDR. They were assessed with psychometric scales and diagnostic interviews before treatment, directly after treatment, at 8 months, and at 35 months after the end of Therapy. The primary outcome variable was full diagnosis of PTSD according to the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results from interview-based and self-evaluation psychometric scales were used as secondary outcome variables. Immediately following treatment, the patients were divided up into two groups, initial remitters (12 of 20) and non-remitters (8 of 20). There were no drop-outs during therapy, but three patients withdrew during follow-up. The initial result was maintained at the 35-month follow-up. The secondary outcome variables also showed a significant immediate change towards normality that was stable during the long-term follow-up. After 3 years of follow-up, 83% of the initial remitters had full working capacity.

The Cognitive Dismantling of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 1999

Twenty-seven subjects were exposed to standard Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment or a similar treatment without the explicit cognitive elements found in EMDR. Standardized psychometric assessments were administered (Structured Interview for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Impact of Event Scale, Revised Symptom Checklist-90) by independent assessors at pretest, posttest and two separate follow-up periods. Potential subjects met specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Subjective measures including Subjective Units of Disturbance and Validity of Cognition assessments were also conducted. A two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that both treatments produced significant symptom reductions and were comparable on all dependent measures across assessment phases. The present findings are discussed in light of previous dismantling research that converges to suggest that several elements in the EMDR protocol may be superfluous in terms of the contribution to treatment outcome. These same elements have nevertheless entered unparsimoniously into consideration as possible explanatory variables.

Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing ( EMDR ) in the Iranian Veterans with Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) after Iran-Iraq War

To explore the efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat Iranian Veterans who have experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after Iran-Iraq war, a pilot study was designed with pre-test, post-test and control group. First through clinical interview (psychiatrist and clinical psychologist views) and PTSD scale of Mississipi, 30 people of the war Veterans suffering from chronic PTSD were chosen. Then the patients were placed in two different experimental and control groups randomly. Only experimental group were treated with EMDR for four-session in four weeks. After treatment, both groups were assessed with PTSD scale of Mississipi. The obtained results were analyzed with ANCOVA and the results showed that the difference between the experimental and control groups were statistically significant (f=5.501, p=0.027). With regard to results, it can be stated that this difference was created by EMDR treatment.

What is the Role of Eye Movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A Review

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 2012

Background:Controversy continues to exist regarding how EMDR works and whether its mechanisms differ from those at work in standard exposure techniques.Aims:To investigate first whether eye movement bilateral stimulation is an essential component of EMDR and, second, the current status of its theoretical basis.Method:A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted in databases using standard methodology.Results:Clinical research evidence is contradictory as to how essential EMs are in PTSD treatment. More positive support is provided by analogue studies. With regards to potential theoretical support, some evidence was found suggesting bilateral stimulation first increases access to episodic memories; and second that it could act on components of working memory which makes focusing on the traumatic memories less unpleasant and thereby improves access to these memories.Conclusions:The results suggest support for the contention that EMs are essential to this therapy and that a ...

Traumatic Memories, Eye Movements, Phobia, and Panic

Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 1999

In the past years, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has become increasingly popular as a treatment method for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The current article critically evaluates three recurring assumptions in EMDR literature: (a) the notion that traumatic memories are fixed and stable and that flashbacks are accurate reproductions of the traumatic incident; (b) the idea that eye movements, or other lateralized rhythmic behaviors have an inhibitory effect on emotional memories; and (c) the assumption that EMDR is not only effective in treating PTSD, but can also be successfully applied to other psychopathological conditions. There is little support for any of these three assumptions. Meanwhile, the expansion of the theoretical underpinnings of EMDR in the absence of a sound empirical basis casts doubts on the massive proliferation of this treatment method.